Actual rating is 3.5 stars. This book reminded me of a cute Hallmark movie with a little steam. Holden just came back in town to work at his grandpa's veterinary clinic when he runs into his old childhood friend, Sophie. The two hit it off right away like no time has changed and go back to their easy friendship. Holden is trying to prove to a prospective employer that he is a committed man. Sophie is trying to save her grandma's bed and breakfast. Holden proposes a marriage of convivence. He will help her with the bed and breakfast and she will show the prospective employer that he can be trusted. Even though Sophie is hesitant at first they duo go through with the marriage. The next thing you know the two are acting like a married couple and could they actually be falling in love? Will Holden leave for the new job? Will Sophie go with him? Will the two part ways? What will happen with their relationship that's started to evolve?

Wow! This book was the perfect pick me up feel good romance that I so desperately needed.
Holden and Sophie have been friends since they were young but lost touch over the years. They reconnect when Holden moves back to Honey Creek and the sparks fly.
Their journey is full of ups and downs but the chemistry between them cannot be denied.
This small town romance really was a hug in a book. It was heartwarming and sweet and I’m super excited to see what happens in the rest of the series.

This is a sweet read story about childhood friends coming together out of necessity, but quickly realizing that all the chemistry from when they were younger was not a fluke. All those times they wondered "What if...?" finally come to fruition. Lots of home-town feels. Great chemistry, a few laughs from some choice secondary characters (You'll love Dottie, Fred, and Liv!!)

Holden, a self-professed people hater/animal lover, always plays by the rules. But when life flips the script on him, all of the strict rules he had placed on himself (and had placed by his father) don't seem to matter when he connects with Sophie again. She's much more free-spirited than he is, but somehow they balance each other. Together, they find what's been missing in their lives. And Pap got it right...follow the sun (you gotta read the book to get that reference!). 

If you're looking for an easy, feel-good read without huge amounts of angst but plenty of sweetness, then this would be your next read! The best part? This is only the first book in the series. Come fall in love with all of the town folk of Honey Creek.

Marriage of convenience equals destiny!! Hudson and Sophie were best friends (at least in the summer) throughout childhood. When Hudson returns home and needs an insta wife he proposes to Sophie in return for helping her keep Honey House. I think both really knew deep down they were meant to be when they both went after the Pay Day in the car lol! But seriously, you can’t fake that friendship and bond these two have that is the ultimate love story! The supporting characters were just as fun especially Dottie and Birdie! Hudson and Sophie are the perfect couple!

A friend-to-lover's marriage of convenience romance story set in a small town.
It's a sweet story with mature characters, a quirky town, and overall it was well-paced and Holden-Sophie were nice MCs to read about.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book received from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

That was so good! I love the small town vibe, the great characters and their sweet story. Can't wait to see what's in store for Liv! I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

5 Stars

Like You Love Me by Adriana Locke is the first book in the brand new Honey Creek series. It was absolutely FANTASTIC! Ms. Locke knocked it out of the park with this story and let me just say I’m totally here for it! Small town romances are my jam and Ms. Locke proved once again why she is the queen of writing them.

Holden and Sophie have known each other since they were kids. They were friends that never crossed that line into more. Now years later, Holden is back and he needs help. Coming up with what he thought was an amazing plan, he has NO IDEA how much his life is about to change.

There are NO words to adequately describe how much I loved this book! Holden and Sophie’s chemistry was pure fire and I fell head over heels in love with the both of them. I can already tell that this series is going to be one of my favorites! Highly recommend reading this story!

This story! It was so sweet. He’s finding himself and what better way to do that than spending time with your childhood best friend. I loved the small town and all that comes with it. The advice from Pap, everyone knowing each other, the routines. It was all perfect!

Childhood friends who see each other again years later, Holden is pleasantly surprised and comfortable having Sophie around. Focused on his veterinary work, he’s hoping for the job offer of his dreams. Sophie is focused on trying to get her grandmother’s B&B up and running. When overdue taxes and a potential employer looking for a family man to join the practice causes more stress for them both, they agree to help each other out. Knowing it’s temporary, they didn’t take into account the feelings they start to develop for each other. What will happen when Holden is offered his dream job? Can he leave Sophie and the town he’s grown to love behind?

This is a sweet love story set in a small town, where everyone knows everyone’s business. Sophie is a stubborn, headstrong girl who is determined to save her grandmother’s B&B out of guilt. Holden is trying to prove a point to his father. While both are dwelling in the past, they are on the verge of letting the future slip by. Having read this author before, she writes characters you can relate to. You can’t help but to fall for Holden and Sophie, as well as Sophie’s siblings and Holden’s grandpa. The author writes the small town experience as if you are one of the residents. Looking forward to reading more in this series!

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read this book.

This book is the first in a new series and I loved it. Small town, fake marriage and friends to lovers all in one book. Holden needs a wife and Sophie needs money to keep her B&B that was her grandma’s. Of course they fall in love. Small town romance are my favorite and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really sweet romance. If you are looking for a feel good, wholesome romance with some humor, look no further. This follows childhood friends who have recently stumbled into a marriage of convenience on both sides. He needs a wife so he he looks stable for a potential job prospect after his life fell to pieces through no fault of his own. She needs someone with the ability to pay off her debt and save her beloved bed and breakfast. What they didn't expect is that their "fake" marriage might actually turn into a real one and their pretend feelings might actually be real.

I liked that Holden and Sophie knew each other previously. I'm not a huge fan of insta-love, but the fact that he spent summers in Honey Creek and they always liked each other despite never acting on their feelings previously took that issue out of the story. They already have friendship and memories to back up their feelings and relationship, so when Holden asks her to marry him to get them both out of their situations it is still a crazy solution, but not totally outlandish. Despite the fact that they both agree to keep things between them completely platonic, things don't go as planned.

I really enjoyed watching Sophie and Holden's relationship unfold. They were comfortable with each other from spending years together as friends and they had great chemistry. This has some great side characters that I hope to see more of in future books. If you like friends to lovers, second chance romances, and marriages of convenience this is a great story! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I just loved this story. It’s a clean read so although it alludes to sexual things it’s really kept out of it. The character even the minor ones are so fun and quirky. I love this kid with the ferret. This troupe marriage of convince is so thrilling to be and this is another story to be listed amount the best. I really hope to read more from this town, this family and all the other characters In town. They get their HEA. The o lay thing truly missing here is a great glimpse of their future. As you all know I’m all about that. I want to see a baby or two and considering he’s a vet let add some fantastic pets into the mix. It I honestly couldn’t mark it down because it was such a cute read.

Like You Love Me checked so many boxes for me- sweet and sassy heroine, swoony hero, childhood friends to lovers, quirky small town with colorful characters, witty banter- it was all there! I loved seeing their marriage of convenience develop into more, but I found the tease of the slow burn to be so worthwhile. When Sophie and Holden gave in to their attraction- it was just perfection. I always love the beginning of a new Adriana Locke small town romance series- meeting all the characters and seeing all the possibilities. I am so here for the Honey Creek series!

Small town perfection. The kind of story that makes you feel good! The perfect read to cozy up with any day and every day!

Like You Love Me is book #1 in the Honey Creek Series. I loved this small town, feel good story. It was sweet, fun, and so entertaining. Holden and Sophie are likeable, and they had good chemistry. I liked the how supporting the secondary characters too. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Adriana Locke, marriage of convenience, and friends to lovers? Count me in!

This first book in the brand new Honey Creek series was a delight to read. Holden needs to look good for a prospective employer and Sophie needs help with her bed and breakfast, so Holden proposes a marriage of convenience he thinks will benefit them both. Of course things don't go as planned and suddenly those feelings they were faking might not be so fake anymore.

Holden and Sophie were so sweet together, and I liked how their relationship changed and grew as they spent more time together. There's no shortage of sweet, funny, and swoony moments that made it hard to put the book down. The small town is a perfect setting and I cannot wait for more Honey Creek!

“It’s really not as complicated as you’re thinking it is. He needs a wife to get a job, and I’m available and willing. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.”

This story was so cute, I was immediately smiling and laughing and falling for Holden and Sophie’s love affair. A marriage of convenience romance, these two bring the banter and chemistry making for a fun story, with the perfect amount of angst and heartfelt love. The small town of Honey Creek was absolutely charming as well, there is something about knowing all the gossip about your neighbors that makes for a fun backdrop to a romance novel. And let me tell you, a fresh apple pie sounds like the perfect payment for veterinary services rendered, who needs money when you can have pie!

Holden and Sophie spent summers together as kids, so they immediately fell back into that easy banter and it felt completely natural. Years apart meant nothing when you were married with a ring pop one summer long ago. So spontaneously getting married to save a job interview and the family bed and breakfast seemed perfectly logical and I fell for it hook, line and sinker! Holden was a swoon worthy hero with his self confidence and handsome looks, but also in the way he cared for Sophie’s well being right from the start. Fate brought these two together and Sophie’s no-nonsense attitude made it easy to see how a love between them would last a lifetime. If you are in need of a sweet romance that will bring the laughter and the heat, pick up this book!

Two childhood friends are playing house—and maybe playing for keeps—in this sexy, and unpredictable marriage-of-convenience romance.

To save her Tennessee bed-and-breakfast, Sophie Bates needs a fast-cash miracle. Holden McKenzie, her childhood best friend, needs to prove to a prospective employer that he’s a committed man. Their fortunes on the line, Holden proposes…a solution.

He’ll take care of Sophie’s bills if she agrees to a temporary marriage of convenience. And why not? They’re comfortable together, they have fun, and they trust each other. It’s as simple as saying “I do.” But the off-the-cuff wedding has all of Honey Creek talking—and Sophie and Holden realizing that their perfect arrangement is working too well. If they’re not careful, this marriage could turn into a love story.

Loved Holden and Sophie's story! Beautifully written and heartfelt. Lots of lol moments while reading their story. I absolutely adored Pap! What a wonderful way to start off 2021!

Like you love me has two things that make me swoon every time I come across them in a book- a small town setting with kind, supportive, quirky inhabitants, and my favourite trope- friends to lovers. There's nothing more romantic for me than falling in love with the person you've known and respected for years....
Holden, a.k.a. Dr Holden, aka Dr McKenzie comes back to a small Tennessee town where his grandfather runs a veterenary prctice. Holden has just lost both his dream job (through no fault of his own) and his fiancee. The problem is in his field employers take a prospective candidates seriousness and stability very seriously...
Sophie Bates is about to lose her beloved bed-and-breakfast...unless she comes up with a quick cash intervention. The business is a bit slow, so however hard she wracks her brains, she is no closer to finding a solution. Until Holden, her childhood friend, comes up with a perfect arrangement that will help them get weather their respective storms and get on their feet, ready to face life. A temporary marriage. You can probably guess what is going to happen with these two charming newly weds. Yep, it's obvious, they are bound to find out that they are perfect for each other.
I loved Adriana Locke's writing style- it was so easy to fall into the story and keep turning pages on and on. You know what is going to happen and you are there for evry minute of the characters' journey to their happily-ever-after.
Can't wait to read the next story in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

The brilliance of this story is in it's simplicity.
That's it.
It's a marriage of convenience, friends to lovers romance set in a small town.
It was so much fun to read. From the banter to the characters... right down to the small town crazy folks. Holden is swoon worthy. His moment of reckoning stole my breath and brought tears to my eyes. I love how the relationship between he and Sophie develops.
This books doesn't need a bunch of fancy things said about it because the brilliance is in it's simplicity.

-- Marriage of Convenience
-- Childhood Friends to Lovers
-- Swoony Hero
-- Feisty Heroine
-- A bunch of small town, quirky characters
-- Fun Banter
-- Emotional moments.